As allied armor (especially Soviet) became more resistant to
armor piercing ammunition, and as the war was becoming increasingly
a defensive one for the Germans, tank destroyers with more powerful
armaments were sought. Towards this end, Krupp attempted to mount
the 8.8cm Pak 43/3 L/71 on a Panzer IV Ausf. J chassis. This gun was
essentially the same as the one found on the Jagdpanther and Tiger II, and
represented one of the best anti-tank guns produced during World War II.
Calculations apparently showed that the vehicle's weight exceeded the
tolerance of the suspension, and the "Panzerjaeger IV mit 8.8cm Pak 43/3
L/71" remained a paper project.